Roulette drinking game

ABSTRACT

A roulette drinking game provides an apparatus and method of playing a drinking game wherein a concave table is provided with markings and recesses resembling those of a roulette wheel, indicating types and quantities of alcoholic beverages. The player spins a golf ball around the rim of the table. The location at which the ball stops determines the type and quantity of alcoholic beverage the player must consume.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/988506, filed May 5, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to entertainment and games, and in particular to a roulette drinking game. Public interest in various games of chance is increasing, as demonstrated by the popularity of casinos and state lotteries. For those attending parties, the usual drinking games have become boring and a new game, featuring an element of chance generated in a familiar way, would be welcomed. A roulette drinking game, requiring a certain number and type of alcoholic drinks for the player based on the location where the roulette ball lands, would satisfy this demand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a roulette drinking game. The game provides an apparatus and method of playing a drinking game wherein a table is provided with markings and recesses resembling those of a roulette wheel, indicating types and quantities of alcoholic beverages. The player spins a golf ball around the rim of the table. The location at which the ball stops determines the type and quantity of alcoholic beverage the player must consume.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

No drawing is provided for the disclosed invention, because a drawing is not necessary for the understanding of the invention under 35 U.S.C. §113, 37 C.F.R. §1.81(a), and MPEP §608.02 (III) (A).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a roulette drinking game. The game provides an apparatus and method of playing a drinking game wherein a concave table is provided with markings and recesses resembling those of a roulette wheel, indicating types and quantities of alcoholic beverages. The player spins a golf ball around the rim of the table. The location at which the ball stops determines the type and quantity of alcoholic beverage the player must consume.

The invention is directed to a concave table resembling a traditional roulette wheel with segmented markings around its perimeter, corresponding to recesses on the table wherein a golf ball may come to rest after revolving around the rim of the table. The markings differ from those on a standard roulette wheel, in that they are easily understood to indicate the type and quantity of alcoholic beverages which must be consumed by the player rolling the golf ball around the table.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the table is provided in a simple tabletop version which may be placed on a table, desk, or any other flat surface to being the game. In the second exemplary embodiment, the table is provided on a set of legs, mounted above a large ice bucket for bottles or cans of beer. The legs preferably retract or fold such that the device is easily stored and transported. The ice bucket is preferably provided with rubber feet and a drain plug on its lower edge. Each of the rubber feet is preferably provided on a threaded post such that the post may be selectively extended from, or retracted into, a corresponding threaded hole on the bottom surface of the bucket. Removable levels around the upper edge of the bucket may be used in conjunction with the threaded posts to establish a perfectly level configuration for the bucket and, as a result, the table.

To use the first or second exemplary embodiment, the players gather around the table and take turns rolling the golf ball around its rim. The order of play is determined by the players' birthdates, with the oldest player spinning first. Each player drinks the type and quantity of alcoholic beverages which are indicated by the marking on the table, when the golf ball comes to rest in the recess which corresponds to the marking. Endings to the game may include if a player refuses to drink, or is unable to drink the required beverages, that player is eliminated from play. When all players except one have been eliminated, the remaining player is the winner.

The rules of the game include the following:

The golf ball must roll around the table one time or the player must consume one sip of an alcoholic beverage;

If the ball rolls off of the table, the play must consume one sip of an alcoholic beverage, retrieve the ball, and pass it to the next player;

If the ball lands on the lower section of the table, in the 1's, each player in that section must consume one sip of an alcoholic beverage;

If the ball lands on the 2 or 3, each player in that section must consume two or three sips of an alcoholic beverage dependent upon the number the ball lands on;

If the ball rolls around the table twice, the player is exempt if another player lands on their ball, the player who rolled the ball around the table twice may pick another player to consume the appropriate number of sip(s) of an alcoholic beverage;

If the ball lands in the top recesses, each player except the player who rolled the ball must consume three sips of an alcoholic beverage, and the player who rolled must take a second turn;

If the ball lands in the top recesses three time in a row, the game ends and the player who rolled the ball wins;

If the ball rolls around the table three times, the game ends and the player who rolled the ball wins.

The table, the legs, the posts, and the ice bucket are preferably manufactured from a rigid, durable, lightweight material which is easily cleaned, such as plastic or acrylic polymer. Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game comprising: (a) a concave table; (b) said concave table being circular and having a face; (c) said face being shaped with a plurality of recesses; (d) said face being marked with a plurality of segmented markings; (e) said plurality of segmented markings corresponding to said plurality of recesses; (f) said segmented markings corresponding to any combination of the group of types of beverages, quantities of beverages, or instructions; (g) a ball; (h) said ball being of a diameter such that said ball may settle inside said plurality of recesses; (i) a groove; (j) said groove being located around the perimeter of said concave table and outside of said plurality of recesses such that said ball will fall into said concave face once its speed decreases.
 2. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 1 wherein said face may be spun around a central axis.
 3. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 1 further comprising a lip; said lip surrounding said concave table.
 4. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 1 wherein said ball is a golf ball.
 5. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 1 wherein said plurality of recesses form four separate rings.
 6. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 5 wherein a first inner ring, said first inner ring being located at the center of said face, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 1; a second ring, said second ring being located outside of said first inner ring, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 2; a third ring, said third ring being located outside of said second ring, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 3; a fourth outer ring, said fourth outer ring being located outside of said third ring along the perimeter of said face, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating directions for users.
 7. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 5 wherein a first inner ring, said first inner ring being located at the center of said face, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 1; a second ring, said second ring being located outside of said first inner ring, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 2; a third ring, said third ring being located outside of said second ring, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 3; a fourth outer ring, said fourth outer ring being located outside of said third ring along the perimeter of said face, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number
 3. 8. A method of playing a roulette drinking game using an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: (a) a concave table; (b) said concave table being circular and having a face; (c) said face being shaped with a plurality of recesses; (d) said face being marked with a plurality of segmented markings; (e) said plurality of segmented markings corresponding to said plurality of recesses; (f) said segmented markings corresponding to any combination of the group of types of beverages, quantities of beverages, or instructions; (g) a ball; (h) said ball being of a diameter such that said ball may settle inside said plurality of recesses; (i) a groove; (j) said groove being located around the perimeter of said concave table and outside of said plurality of recesses such that said ball will fall into said concave face once its speed decreases; and the method comprising: (k) each of a plurality of players standing around said concave table; (l) one active player spinning said ball around said groove such that said ball comes to rest inside one of said plurality of recesses; (m) if said ball does not complete one full rotation around said concave table or if said ball rolls off the table, said active player continuing play by taking a drink of his beverage and next player in said plurality of players becoming said active player; (n) if said ball comes to rest inside one of said plurality of recesses, said active player following the direction indicated on said one of said plurality of segmented markings indicated in that said one of said plurality of recess where said ball comes to rest; (o) if said ball completes two full rotations around said concave table before coming to rest inside said one of said plurality of recesses, said active player is exempted from following said direction and may assign said direction to another player in said plurality of players; (p) if any one of said plurality of players refuses to follow said direction indicated on said one of said plurality of segmented markings where said ball comes to rest, eliminating said active player; (q) said next player becoming the active player; and (r) said plurality of players continue repeating until there is only one of said plurality of players remaining; or until said ball comes to rest in said fourth ring 3 turns consecutively; or until said active player spinning said ball completes three full rotations around said concave table before coming to rest inside said one of said plurality of recesses.
 9. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 1 wherein said face may be spun around a central axis.
 10. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 1 further comprising a lip; said lip surrounding said concave table.
 11. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 1 wherein said ball is a golf ball.
 12. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 1 wherein said plurality of recesses form four separate rings.
 13. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 5 wherein a first inner ring, said first inner ring being located at the center of said face, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 1; a second ring, said second ring being located outside of said first inner ring, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 2; a third ring, said third ring being located outside of said second ring, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 3; a fourth outer ring, said fourth outer ring being located outside of said third ring along the perimeter of said face, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating directions for users.
 14. The apparatus for playing a roulette drinking game of claim 5 wherein a first inner ring, said first inner ring being located at the center of said face, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 1; a second ring, said second ring being located outside of said first inner ring, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 2; a third ring, said third ring being located outside of said second ring, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number 3; a fourth outer ring, said fourth outer ring being located outside of said third ring along the perimeter of said face, comprises a plurality of said segmented markings indicating the number
 3. 